Improvement in sap-buckets



.THOMAS B. HAYWARD, OF SOUTH AOWORTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAP-suckers'.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1"a,628, dated February 20, 1877 application tiled September 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS B. HAYWARD, ot' South Acworth, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sap-Buckets, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The object ot' my invention is, first, to secure the sap, when taken from the sugar-maple, more perfectly from all impurities to which it is liable, when open buckets with impertectly-lit-ting covers are used, like those in general use; secondly, to facilitate the process ot' gathering, which is accomplished by the superior manner in which the .bucket is attached to the tree.

The nature ot' my invention is fully shown in the vertical View, Figure 1,'of the accompanying drawing, in which A represents the bucket, and a. an aperture c ut just beneath the wire which forms the vrim ot the bucket,

l for receiving the spout b, on which the bucket is suspended. B represents a plain close-fitting lid, which is attached to the bucket A by means of' a spiral spring, c, which is fastvened to the lid B by soldering, riveting, or in any convenient manner, and by its torsional pressure holds the lid or cover lirmlyupon the bucket, so as to prevent its being displaced by the wind. That part of the spring c by which the lid B is attached to the bucket A is so formed as to be easily adjusted to the bucket, and rmly held in the slide d on the bucket A, from which it is easily removed for the purpose of packing or transportation.

My invention is not confined alone to the use of a spiral spring, but to any kind oi' a spring or similar device which accomplishes the same.

The' bucket and lid may be made of wood, tin, or any suitable material, and so formed that the lid will completely cover the bucket.

When a wooden bucket is used, a space should be cut out at the top to receive the spout, and a metallic ear or hanger. g, should be nailed or riveted to the inside of the bucket, of sufficient size and strength to hang upon the spout.

The spout b maybe made of wood'or metal,

with an elevatedv projection or upright staple, f, as shown in Fig. 2for the purpose of hold- -ing the bucket steadily on the spout.

My invention, so far as it pertains to hanging the bucket, is not confined alone to suspending it upon the spout; but the ear g eX- tends above the bucket to a suitable height, to admit of` an aperture, t', for additional suspension upon the nail h, (shown in Fig. 1,)and by this mode of suspension the bucket is 'rmly held in proper position, and as easily. removed from the tree, for the purpose of pouring out the sap, as in the usual mode of hanging.

By removing the nail h, it will be observed that the sap may be poured from the bucket Without removing' it from the spout. By swinging the bottom of the bucket to the right and upward, thesap and ice contained in the bucket presses against the lid, and raises it, so as to permit the contents to be properly discharged, and in this manner the process of gathering is performed, whether the ear isY made to extend above the lid, or the bucket is suspended only upon the spout.

[t will be observed that a Water-line draw from the top of the bucket, opposite to the -spout,\across the bucket, will fall beneath the suspending'aperture, as shown in the accomy panying drawings; therefore, the space for admission ofthe spout does not lessen the capacity ot' the bucket, as ordinarily hung, and, if desirable, the bucket may be made higheron the side in which the aperture is made, so as to form an additional security against wasting the sap before the bucket is t'ull atthe opposite side.

I claim as my inventionl. In combination with bucket A, provided with slide d, the lid B, provided with coilspring c and securingdoop, arranged and opmating substantially as described. q

2. In combination with bucket A, the ear or hanger g, provided with apertures for the reception of spout b and nail I1., arranged and operating substantially as described. f

THOMAS B. HAYWARD. Witnesses l a J. B. RICHARDSON, E. S. RicHAJiDsoN. 

